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Marathon Handbook’s weekly podcast covers everything you need to know about running, from running your first 5K to qualifying for the Boston Marathon! Each week, our editors chat about what’s going on in the running scene, as well as timely training tips, the best new gear, and what’s happening at the world’s biggest races. We’ll cover everything from the Boston Marathon to the Barkley Marathons, often podding live from the most important moments in running! Watch our video podcast each week on YouTube, and listen to it wherever you get your podcasts! Inquiries: podcast@marathonhandbook.com
Connor Mantz is the American marathon record holder, but his journey to the top hasn’t been straightforward.
After a breakout 2025 season that included a record-breaking 2:04:43 at the Chicago Marathon, Mantz looked poised for even bigger things. But a sacrum stress fracture forced him off running for nearly three months.
In this episode, Alex Cyr sits down with Mantz to talk about his recovery, his build toward the 2026 Boston Marathon, and what it takes to compete with the best marathoners in the world.
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They discuss:
Setting the American marathon record in Chicago
The injuries that derailed his training
How elite runners approach recovery and cross-training
Whether Americans are closing the gap on East African runners
Super shoes and how they’ve changed racing
Doping concerns in professional running
Why Utah produces so many elite distance runners
His long-term goal of winning an Olympic medal in 2028
Plus a rapid-fire round covering shoe rotations, breaking two hours in the marathon, and who he trusts most to babysit his future child.
00:00 Intro
00:47 Meet American Marathon Record Holder Conner Mantz
02:30 Injury After Chicago & The Road Back
04:30 Running Through Injuries
06:30 The Sacrum Stress Fracture Explained
11:00 Cross Training While Injured
14:30 Returning to Running After 12 Weeks Off
17:40 Boston Marathon Build & Training Strategy
22:00 Benchmark Workouts Before a Marathon
24:00 Can Conner Mantz Win Boston?
25:30 Choosing Marathons: Legacy vs Prize Money
28:30 Olympic Gold vs Winning a Major
31:00 The Sour Patch Kids Doping Scare
36:00 Doping in Elite Running
44:30 The Enhanced Games Debate
49:00 Are Americans Catching East African Runners?
54:00 The Super Shoe Effect
57:00 Why Some Runners Improve So Fast
58:30 What Makes Conner Mantz a Great Marathoner
1:00:30 Why Utah Produces So Many Elite Runners
1:04:00 Goals for 2026 & Olympic Dreams
1:06:00 Rapid Fire Questions
1:15:00 Where to Follow Conner Mantz
